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The Sgt. Lawrence Everhart Chapter, SAR, and the Frederick and Carrollton Manor Chapters, DAR, invite you to the commemoration of the 250th Anniversary of the organization of the Maryland Rifle Companies which took place in Fredericktown on 21 June 1775. This event is being organized in partnership with the Frederick County U.S. Semiquincentennial Commission.

On 14 June 1775, at the same time that the Second Continental Congress named George Washington as Commander-in-Chief of the new Continental Army, it directed that ten companies of riflemen be raised in the frontier regions of Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia. Accordingly, the United States Army considers June 14, 1775 as its birthdate.

Maryland was assigned the responsibility of raising two rifle companies, and its delegates assigned this task to the Frederick County Committee of Observation. At a meeting at the County Courthouse in Fredericktown on 21 June, chaired by John Hanson, the Committee of Observation created the two companies and appointed their officers.

Recall that in 1775, Frederick County encompassed all of western Maryland, including present-day Montgomery County, part of Carroll County, and Washington, Allegheny, and Garrett Counties to the west. Organizations from those areas are invited to participate in this event.

The two Maryland Rifle Companies were commanded by Captain Michael Cresap (son of Thomas Cresap), and Captain Thomas Price.

After the creation of the Rifle Companies on June 21, the next few weeks were spent in furnishing the riflemen with rifles and other equipment. On July 18, the two Maryland companies, consisting of about 130 men, set off for Massachusetts on foot, marching 550 miles in 22 days! No Continental uniforms here: they wore hunting shirts, often with fringes, round hats, leather leggings, and many had their faces painted, Indian style. Along the way they often gave demonstrations of their superb marksmanship.

In August 1775, with the arrival of Maryland, Virginia, and Pennsylvania Rifle Companies in Massachusetts, the revolutionary Army became truly Continental. They joined in the siege of Boston under the command of General Washington. The siege ultimately led to the evacuation of the British forces from Boston, never to return.

Frederick Countians and all western Marylanders can justly take pride in our contribution to creating the Continental Army which, over the following eight years, won our independence and created a new, sovereign Nation.